Page 34 of Lovebug
“Don’t you think it would be nice to widen our circle a bit beyond just the three of us?” I ask, not altogether certain she’s even listening to me anymore.
“Your father is a wonderful man,” she finally says.
“Agreed.” I shrug. “Never said he wasn’t.”
“He does what he feels is best for his family. Let’s leave it at that.”
And thus concludes yet another illuminating conversation with my parents.
“Didn’t you say you were going out tonight?” She changes the subject. Mom’s a champ at that.
“Yup, heading out for some drinks.”
“With Bert?” She brightens.
“With Calliope actually. She’s in town for her niece and nephew’s first birthday party. Cyndi’s coming too. And Calliope’s new boyfriend’s sister.”
“That’s nice! Bert joining you there then?”
“No. Bert has a networking event in Paoli tonight.” I try not to sound disappointed.
“He has an event most Saturday nights, it seems.”
“Yeah, he’s super committed to The Business with Doreen, so…”
“Well, that’s wonderful,” Mom says with a definitive nod. “You want a hardworking man. That’s very important. You know, if I haven’t said it enough? Your father and I are really pleased to see you two so happy together and taking the next steps. My girl deserves the very best.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Am I happy, though?
“Hey, Mom?”
“Yes, baby.”
“Would you say we’re close?”
“Of course, I would. Wouldn’t you?”
“I guess so?”
“You guess so? What does that mean?”
“Nothing. Just—one of the teens I am working with at the arboretum? Naomi Thornton’s daughter actually. Seems that she and her mom talk about, um… intimacy.”
“Well, that’s incredibly inappropriate.” She gasps.
“Isit?”
“Absolutely!” My mother chortles.
“I dunno, for a minute I thought the same thing, but then I found myself wondering… Aren’t mothers supposed to discuss these sorts of things with their teenage daughters? So they know what to expect and how to manage… certain situations? We never did that. You always seemed super uncomfortable around that topic.”
“Which topic?” She seems to hold her breath as she asks.
“Sex,” I say.
“Oh, dear god!” My mother’s body jolts as if she’s been tasered… “Oh ho ho ho, hahahahaha.” Then she proceeds to giggle like a schoolgirl.
